In 2025, Weber released a new version of its entry-level Spirit line; in our testing, it blew every other “entry” level grill I’ve used away. Upgrades from earlier lines include both the cooking area of the grill as well as some new nice-to-have features.
What we love: The first thing to know about this grill is that it gets hot. The new and improved Spirit line includes a sear zone that, on the 435, encompasses half the grill (there are a number of different series within the Spirit line that come at different prices with more or fewer features). You activate the sear zone by giving the temperature knobs an extra turn, which means you can choose whether or not you want searing temps or more moderate ones across the entire surface. When I used the sear zone, I was able to get temperatures up above 800°. Without them, temps topped out just under 500°, but the cast-iron grates still produced excellent grill marks.
Another welcome update to the new Spirit line is its snap-to-start igniters. Instead of the push-button igniters of old, the snap ignition lights by simply clicking each burner on—easy enough that you can do it one-handed.
The Spirit line accommodates Weber’s Crafted accessories, which allow you to replace your grates with items like a wok station or griddle. There are also drop-in accessories like a cutting board or condiment basket that fit into the side shelf.
Finally, the new Spirit cleans up easier than earlier Weber grills. An angled pan below the burners funnels any mess into a removable grease tray.
I chose the 435 model of the Spirit for a few nice-to-have, but not absolutely necessary features. An included battery-operated thermostat with a huge digital display makes it easy to see exactly how hot your grill has gotten from across the yard, and a side burner lets you simultaneously sauté vegetables while grilling proteins. But you can still get the benefits of the sear zones and everything discussed above in the less expensive versions of the Spirit that I think are the best starter grill you can get.
What we’d leave: Everything in the new Spirit feels very considered, solving almost every typical issue with a gas grill. The one thing to know, though, is that its thicker cast-iron grates take a little bit of extra time to heat up.
